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The Logic of Grace

Dennis McCallum

Deuteronomy 30:3-5

God's grace has three components: faith, hope, and love. This faith is dependent upon God's self-authentication through fulfilled prophecies like the regathering of Israel, and it is also personal in the sense that people choose individually to start a relationship with God. God also extends hope to people through the promise of eternal life in heaven, and this hope provides Christians with joy in this life. Finally, love is the motivation for sharing God's grace with people who do not know Him and serving others in the church. These three components provide a firm foundation for the Christian life and reasons to learn more about Christ for those who are investigating the Christian faith.

Keywords

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Authentic Christian Community (Part 3) Spiritual Gifts

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Paul speaks to the Corinthians about spiritual gifts, explaining that they are to be used to serve others. We are to live inter-dependent lives with other believers, and learn to love them sacrificially. Each of us has a role to play, and spiritual gifts are just one way God wants to use us to support the body.

Keywords

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Wisdom and Friendship

Scott Risley

Proverbs 20:5

Choosing and cultivating friendships is a prominent theme in the book of Proverbs. Throughout Proverbs, there are warnings against befriending the fool. In contrast, it also highlights qualities of godly friendships, among those being loyalty, transparency, patience and generosity. The foundation of a good friendship is the fear of the Lord, receiving and giving His sacrificial love.

Keywords

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Authentic Christian Community (Part 2)

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Paul calls the Corinthians to come to their meetings ready to serve others in love. Those attending the home churches in Corinth were stuck in a selfish mindset, choosing to not welcome others or share with them. The result was that their worship of God was empty, since no actions backed their words. Paul rebukes their selfishness, and reveals to the Corinthians that God has been disciplining them with the goal that they'll repent and choose to love.

Keywords

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Authentic Christian Community (Part 1)

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Paul calls the Corinthians to give up their selfish ways and live for others. He uses women wearing head coverings to teach the church about sacrificing our free will for the sake of loving others and reaching them. Paul gives us several principles for serving love, and we learn the importance of historical context when interpreting scripture.

Keywords

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A Conversation Under the Cloak of Darkness

Jim Leffel

John 3:1-21

Jesus urges the Pharisee Nicodemus to receive eternal life by being born again. Jesus' message was challenging as Nicodemus was a good man who followed his religious beliefs and was confused about how someone could be born again. Jesus explains that the only solution to the human condition of separation with God is to believe and make the personal decision to receive Jesus' life. No one can be good enough to earn eternal life. Jesus teaches we receive eternal life by believing and receiving God's love and forgiveness. This Good News is for everyone who believes.

Keywords

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Freedom and God's Wisdom

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Corinthians 9:1-23

For Christians, there is freedom within the boundaries of God's moral absolutes, but it is important to consider whether things are beneficial to others. Although Paul had the right to financial support as a church planter, he waived that right so that non-Christians in Corinth would not think he was in it for the money. The wisdom of God tells us that we should be willing to sacrifice freedom if it is going to be a hindrance to others hearing or understanding the gospel. In other words, the "law of love" supersedes the "law of liberty." Paul's motivation to live this way was following Christ's example. We should also remember that Christ gave up his rights for each of us.

Keywords

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Final Thoughts

Jim Leffel

2 Timothy 4:5-8

Paul closes up his letter to Timothy, describing his own perspective on the present, past, and future in order to teach Timothy how to live well. We, like Timothy, should live our lives sacrificially loving others, doing the work of God, and striving to please Him. Paul leaves Timothy with four aspects of a mature servant: be alert, prepare for battle, focus on what matters, and respond to God's leading.

Keywords

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Submitting to One Another

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 5:21-33

The Bible, more than any other religious text, promotes equality on all levels. The Bible's example of leadership, through Jesus, is that of servant leadership. Submission in the Biblical context means being willing to be responsive to the ways that the other person is trying to lead and serve you.

Keywords

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